LEGENDS OF THE SAMURAI

Product Information

The man who created the Muramasa went by the name of Sengo Muramasa. It is said that Muramasa lived through a series of misfortunes that made him lead a sort of bizarre life. He would be angry, arrogant, jealous of everything around him, and had ambitions that were purely evil. You live in Feudal Japan, where many are weak and few are strong. The road to Greatness is not an easy one. Samurai must train in the martial arts to destroy their enemies. Clans must battle to survive. Learn the ways of the Samurai to protect your allies and slay your enemies. You control your own destiny. Do you choose to prey upon the weak or to be preyed upon? The art is fantastic. Remember the art in the old first edition Oriental Adventures book for AD&D? Well, it's like that, style wise. Eerie just how close it is. Since RPGOBjects is firstly a PDF company, the PDF takes advantage of most the frills the format offers, bookmarks and such. The only real oddity is the Unearthed Arcane like weapon proficiency system. Rather than the usual Simple, Martial, and Exotic it divides weapons into groups and exotic weapons. This d20 sourcebook features new classes and mechanics to bring the world of medieval Japan to life in your game and blends our popular spell point, nobility, fate, and martial rules to create an Oriental game experience like no other.

Provenance: Michael Tomkinson Collection (1841-1921) “A Japanese Collection” by M. Tomkinson In another story, a samurai by the name of Matsudaira Geki forgot his bushido and killed his best friend from childhood after going into a Muramasa-driven frenzy. He then used the sword to kill himself. Born around 152, Hattori Hanzo (Hattori Masanari) was samurai in service to the Tokugawa clan. He was known to be a fearless warrior and performed many feats in service of the clan, including rescuing Tokugawa’s daughter from a castle and laying siege to another castle.

Samurai Myths & Misconceptions

The metalworkers who had previously worked to supply the fine sword fitting and armours suddenly lost their patronage due to the downfall of the feudal system; also the introduction of Western clothes replaced the traditional kimono, making the netsuke (the small toggle suspended from the belt) no longer necessary, although many carvers continued to produce netsuke, they began focusing more on the art form known as okimono (lit. an object of display) which found its best expression during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Second, there is no bookmarking. This is pet peeve of mine. All large PDF's should have bookmarking. In addition there is no index. This can make referencing the book a chore. This hurts what otherwise would be a very nice layout

Hanzo has been depicted in many media in various ways, and the character who shares his name in the film Kill Bill is no doubt inspired by this legendary Samurai. 7. Sanada Yukimura (1567 – 1615) At 16, he took over a single district of Owari Province after his father’s death. He was considered an eccentric (at best) or a fool (more often). Hailing from Osaka, Kusunoki Masashige is still regarded as the model samurai. When he was born, in 1294, many samurai were very poor and very upset, as they believed that they had not been rewarded sufficiently by the government for their actions fighting the Mongolians.

7. Sanada Yukimura (1567 – 1615)

Masamune was known for his great sympathy for the Christian population growing in Japan, only reluctantly allowing their persecution in his domain when Ieyasu outlawed Christianity. Born in 1584, Myamoto Mushashi was a famous and accomplished soldier, swordsman, and artist. He first engaged in real combat when he was 13. When he was on the losing side of the Battle Sekigahara in 1600, he became a ronin, or masterless samurai. That is why the Shishi, or the fighters against the Tokugawa, used the Muramasa as their symbol against shogunate oppression. Even its leaders, Prince Taruhito and Takamori, used the Muramasa when they finally put the Tokugawa, or Edo, period at its end. Even though these legends began earlier with Mikawago Fudoki, written by an unknown writer, it is in this period and during this fight against the Tokugawa that the old stories became what they are today. Arguably even more impressive than the samurais’ bushidō code and artful weaponry was their warrior status. Oral stories of samurai duels, battles, and conquests were eventually transcribed and became epics. Today, some myths are still told through Kabuki and Noh theater—as well as through modern media.

Japanese bronze Samurai warrior holding his katana, wearing ornate robe richly decorated with mon (clan crest), signed Miyao Eisuke 宮尾栄助, Meiji Period. The value of this work lies in the way it illuminates a non- Western cultural tradition--a way of thinking and acting that may seem alien. It offers a rare look into the mindset of Japan's warrior aristocracy." - Library Journal Chapter 4: The last chapter of the pdf provides the typical equipment used during Japanese culture, from the twin swords of the samurai and the warrior class, to the agricultural weapons used by farmers of the farmer class. New types of weapons, armor and equipment are provided with all the required details for players to use.He was also a painter in the sumi-e style and his works are strikingly elegant. His paintings of birds are particularly renowned, especially Kobokumeikakuzu (“Shrike Perched on a Withered Branch”) and Rozanzu (“Wild Geese Among Reeds”). 2. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 – 1616)